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Weekly News Recap: January 13, 2023

Vincent Duckworth

Weekly News Recap: January 13, 2023

MacKenzie Scott, billionaire philanthropist. Last month she announced that her donations since 2019 have totaled more than $14 billion and helped fund around 1,600 nonprofits. But as much as the scale, it is her untraditional style of giving that is causing a stir.

Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself. -- Unknown

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • The Best Movie Posters of 2022 (Kottke.org) Some great talent out there.

  • A doctor saved a Marine’s life in Vietnam. A photo just reunited them. (Washington Post) #Amazing "In the foreground of the photo was the body of a prostrate young private with a corpsman tending to his chest wound. The caption identified the Marine as A.B. Grantham. The name rang a bell with Katz, now 85. The retired doctor living in Rehoboth Beach, Del., rummaged through old files and found what he was looking for: a logbook of surgeries with the 22nd Surgical Hospital in Phu Bai, a U.S. air base near Hué. There, under Feb. 17, 1968 — the same date displayed in the photo caption — were the medical details of A.B. Grantham’s operation. That discovery eventually led the two men to an improbable reunion in September and a new friendship."

  • Sask. families take on challenge to spend 1,000 hours outside in a year (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY Brilliant. Works out to about 20 hours per week. "Dr. Melissa Lem founded PaRx, Canada's national nature prescription program. She thinks the challenge is great. 'Being outside is one of the best things you can do for your health,' Lem said."

  • Canine commuters in Skagway, Alaska, win fans all over (CBC) #Adorable "They may be the internet's most famous bus riders this week — and they're dogs. A minute-long video posted to TikTok, showing a bunch of canine commuters all being very good dogs as they hop aboard their own special bus and claim their seats, has so far racked up about 50 million views and counting. It's 'really captured the hearts of a lot of people,' said Mo Thompson, who made the video with her husband Lee in Skagway, Alaska The two operate a dog-walking and pet-training business in the remote coastal community. The dog bus is a real thing, and not just an internet skit. Every weekday, the Thompsons drive around Skagway picking up their furry charges to take them out on adventures."

  • These muskox-wool hats are the warmest tuques you can find — and they help support a whole community (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Yes, yes, it is. "For many Canadians, wool is wool. You've got your cashmere, your merino wools, and a bunch of wool blends with varying levels of itchiness. But for fibre enthusiasts, qiviut — or muskox wool — is one of the best wools around, and a woman from the Northwest Territories' Beaufort Delta is spinning out yards of the stuff at her fibre mill in Alberta. 'It's like having a cloud in your hand — it's such a lightweight fibre,' said Tanis Simpson, who owns Qiviut Inc. in Nisku, Alta. 'It's like a little piece of heaven on your skin.'"

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Brownies to be renamed Embers in effort to remove barriers for racialized kids (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Girl Guides of Canada announced Wednesday it's changing the name of its Brownies branch to Embers in an effort to be more inclusive. The organization said in November it wanted to change the name of its program for seven- and eight-year-old girls to remove barriers for those who are racialized."

  2. MacKenzie Scott is shaking up philanthropy's traditions. Is that a good thing? (NPR) #MorePlease "On December 14, 2022 billionaire philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott announced that her donations since 2019 have totalled more than $14 billion and helped fund around 1,600 nonprofits. But as much as the scale, it is the style of giving that is causing a stir; it's targeted at a wide spectrum of causes, without a formal application process and — it appears — no strings attached."

  3. New year's resolutions getting you down? Try an In and Out list instead (CBC) CANADIAN CONTENT "An In and Out list can include whatever you want, but many combine elements of objective-based resolutions with a broader range of trends or goals. They also share some DNA with trend lists commonly offered by media outlets at the beginning of a new year or a new season, opining on what's hot and what's not in such categories as pop culture, food and fashion. In and Out lists aren't brand new — the Washington Post has been doing them since 1978, 'gathering ideas and contributions from Post staffers and outside observers.' Its latest edition is full of tongue-in-cheek culture checkpoints you may or may not already be familiar with (for example: chagaccinos are out, while yaupon tea is in)."

  4. The Betty White Challenge is back at B.C. SPCA in 2023 (MSN) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY "The fundraising event runs until Jan. 17, which would have been the veteran comedic actress and animal lover’s 101st birthday. The challenge launched all over the U.S. and Canada at the start of last year in recognition of White and her support of animal welfare causes over the years. White died on New Year’s Eve 2021, just days shy of her 100th birthday. Funds raised will help the SPCA care for animals in need such as this year’s animal of honour, GG — named for White’s hit sitcom Golden Girls."

  5. Federal Government opens funding for post-pandemic help for charities and not-for-profits (Renfrew Today) CANADIAN STORY This is an excellent start. "$400 million is up for grabs for charities and not-for-profits. The money comes from the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund to help organizations adapt to pandemic recovery. The fund responds to what is needed right now as well as supporting the implication of long-term recovery due to the pandemic. Applications are now open with the deadline to apply on February 21st."

  6. Why millennials and Gen Z are helping lead the zero-proof drink surge (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #MocktailsRule "Lee-Anne Richardson says she's hearing from many young Canadians about reducing their alcohol intake, drinking non-alcoholic beverages, or choosing full-blown sobriety. The Dartmouth, N.S., resident is the founder of Sober City, a peer-support group for people struggling with addiction. Richardson feels that millennials and Gen Z are making more informed choices around the negative effects of alcohol compared to previous generations, and are more open to having comprehensive conversations surrounding their mental health."

  7. What Albertans can expect from the economy in 2023 (CBC) ALBERTA STORY Buckle up. "Last year was a financial roller-coaster, and Alberta probably isn't getting off the ride in 2023. But the province appears in a better economic position than most others to handle the nauseating rises and falls. Economists and banks are forecasting that heavy inflation, volatile energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty will continue to be factors this year."

  8. Viral video? Watch this microscopic virus try to infect a cell (CBC) This is amazing and...creepy. "In a stunning feat of microscopy, scientists have been able to produce a video showing a tiny virus circulating around cells prior to infection. 'What we find is that the virus will have many transient contacts, very short timescale contacts, with many cells before binding on any one cell in particular,' said Kevin Welsher, an associate professor of chemistry at Duke University, in an interview with Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald."

  9. Most of Western Canada's glaciers will melt in 80 years, University of Northern B.C. study finds (CBC) CANADIAN STORY :-( "A study by international researchers using a supercomputer at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has found that most of Western Canada's glaciers will disappear by the year 2100. The study, 'Global Glacier Change in the 21st Century: Every Increase in Temperature Matters' was published Thursday in the journal Science. ;A child born today will witness the near-complete disappearance of one of western Canada's most iconic symbols glaciers,' reads a statement from the university."

  10. The Beltline has been named the most liveable neighbourhood in Calgary (Daily Hive) CALGARY STORY I agree, the Beltline rocks. "A blog posted on the RE/MAX website ranked the top 10 most liveable neighbourhoods in Calgary with the community just south of downtown making it to the top of the list. In fact, each of the top five neighbourhoods is either right in the Calgary downtown or adjacent to downtown. The blog says the reason for the Beltline’s high liveability is it’s 'one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Calgary, filled with entrepreneurs, young professionals, artists, and the most urban. It has a reputation for being one of Calgary’s primary areas for eclectic nightlife, restaurants, and urban culture.'"

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. 10 Tips For Asking Great Questions (Illumination) Asking questions is the secret to all learning and knowledge.

  2. How Structure your Day for the Highest Productivity (Bronson Grace) What are you doing for the first eight hours of your day?

  3. ChatGPT — the ultimate list of resources (Data Science Disciple) If you are not on the ChatGPT train, you are going to be left behind.

  4. In 1911, a genius revealed a forgotten science of how to be 50x more productive without working more hours (Hacker) A very comprehensive article (20 minute read) but worth it.

  5. Parlez-vous français ? A guide to effectively self-learn la langue de Molière. (Corbin Vemeulen) I am working hard this year to polish up my French.

  6. Quiet Participants in Meetings: The Underestimated Potential (Wisdom Team) I could not agree more and...I am not one of the quiet participants (but I wish I was).

  7. The Chronic Failure’s Guide to Goal Setting in 2023 (Rewan Tremethick) In case you are still struggling with setting your tone for 2023, here is yet another set of ideas.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. Durham Tech receives $6M donation to expand life sciences program (WUNC 91.5) "Durham Technical Community College has received $6 million to expand its life sciences programs — the college's largest monetary donation ever. Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which has three manufacturing facilities in Durham and Clayton, contributed the funds."

  2. $50M donation made to honor the late Dr. Paul Farmer, continue his work (Boston.com) #Wow "An international connection between Harvard Medical School and the Kigali, Rwanda-based University of Global Health Equity will strengthen thanks to a $50 million donation in honor of the late Dr. Paul Farmer. The Woburn, Massachusetts-based Cummings Foundation made the donation, which the medical school announced Tuesday."

  3. Chuck & Rita Scianna gift $1M investment to Southern Miss (ABC) "Hailed as 'longtime champions of the university,' Chuck & Rita Scianna have made another million-dollar donation to the College of Business (CBED) and Economic Development at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Sciannas have generously supported the college on several notable occasions, including a $6 million donation during the Building Better Business campaign to fund a new facility for the CBED on the Hattiesburg campus. Completed in 2015, the facility is aptly named Scianna Hall."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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